Neighbouring residents crying "foul" over plans to build a floodlit sports ground on the site of a former primary school building look set for disappointment. The scheme to build a new multi-use games area (MUGA) on the footprint of the old Acre Hall Primary School building in Flixton looks likely to be approved.
A recommendation for the scheme to get the green light is to be made to Trafford's planning and development management committee on Thursday (September 8), despite objections from 11 residents in the area. Bright Futures Educational Trust wants to demolish the redundant school building on Irlam Road and replace it with a MUGA with a three-metre-high perimeter fence and six floodlighting columns.
The MUGA will be for "school use only" between 9am and 6pm on weekdays if it gets the go-ahead. It will have a "2G" surface and will be used all the year round for football, netball and hockey. Proposals also include the expansion of the car parking area by 23 more places.
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A report to the committee says: "The proposed development is considered to be acceptable in principle and in terms of its design and appearance, its impact on residential amenity." But one neighbour whose property in Bishop Road backs onto the site, in a written response, is asking why 10-metre high floodlights are required for a school playing facility.
"These lights will be intrusive to our privacy," they said. "We have two young children who sleep in the back bedrooms of the property. The lighting from these floodlights will be detrimental to their bedtime routines and will offer no privacy to their rooms."
They also said the extra car parking will "add noise and pollution to what is now a peaceful environment". "There will be car doors slamming and a constant sound of running engines," they continued.
"I am extremely concerned that the plans for the site will change and opening times will creep into evening and weekend. Our garden is currently a place where we relax in peace and our young children can play safely and enjoy the wildlife.
"This will be spoilt by whistles, balls hitting fences, crowds shouting and possible use of inappropriate language." Another objector said: "I am concerned that, as a close neighbour, I will be adversely affected by light and noise pollution arising from the MUGA.
"I feel certain that once it is up and running, the opening hours will be extended from those proposed. The current nature of our neighbourhood and community is quiet and peaceful. I am concerned this will most definitely change if the MUGA is allowed to go ahead."
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